Jig for treating materials of different specific gravities



Oct. 7, 1952 4 E, HARVENGT 2,612,997

7 JIG FOR TREATING MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Filed May 16, 1947 4 Sheetg-Sheet f g d n m" a- .91 fi' 4/ 52 8 l V Y a 39 fl Oct. 7, 1952 ,E. HARVENGT 2,612,997

' JIG FOR'TREATING MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Filed may 16, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 7, 1952 E. HARVENGT 2,612,997

JIG Eo'R TREATING MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Filed May 16, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 3 I ppeivtaz Ejiaz velz/ Oct. 7, 1952 E. HARVENGT 2,612,997

JIG FOR TREATING MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Filed May 1a, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 112)!) ere/2901 Patented Oct. 7, 1952 JIG FOR TREATING MATERIALS, 0F. DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Edmond Harvengt, Moustier-sur-Sambre, Bely gium, assignor to Link-Belt Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 16, 1947, Serial No. 748,428

, In Belgium May 22, 1946. v t

Apparatus of the kind aforesaid are common in the art and the operation thereof is well known. However as previously devised imperfect results only are obtainableuin practice as well from the point of view of theclassing of the materials as from the point of view of the separation thereof, owing, amongst other,-to -the widevariability of these materials as well as regard the'quantities to be treated as totheir composition.

11 Claims. (Cl. 209-457) Means for retaining on the sieve or grid, as a kind of fixed bed, a predetermined and adjustable quantity of the materials, such as a movable and adjustable weir provided at that end of the sieve or grid which isremote from the feed of the materialsf. v

Means for modifying the useful or workin area of the sieve or gridsuch as a member suitable for overlapping and rendering ineffective a'portionofsucharea; t l i Means for conditioning the liquidpulses, and, or the liquid currents set upin the'apparatus, in order to modify the actions thereof on the materials occupying the sieve or grid oron the ma terial discharged or comingirom'the sieve or grid, or both, such meansj comprising, among In fact iffanypther things remaining unchanged, there 'is'a change in the quantity. of the materials to be treated; the previously obtained classing i not longer effected in the same way,

rated portions are not longer the same as well in quantity as in composition. l i

The same occurs if, under similarconditions, the composition of the materials to be treated becomes modified. .1

In order to take care of the variability, as to the quantity and composition, of the material to be treated, it is of interest to be able to modify, either alone or in'combination, the following conditions or factors of the treatment:

(a) The regimenof advance and discharge of the materialsyor at least of a class or category of the materials occupying thesieve or grid:

(b) The quantity of the materials or at least of a class or category of the materials occupying the sieve or grid; a l

(c) The area of the sieve or grid on which are spread the materials occupying. the sieve or grid;

(d) The effect of the pulses and/or of the liquid currents set up in'the apparatus, on the materials occupying the sieve or grid or on the materials discharged from the sieve or grid, or on both the one and the other. V t

In order to answer these requirements, in accordance with the invention apparatus of the kind specified are provided with certain means and arrangements, amongst which;

A sieve 0r grid constructed to receive as well a horizontal position as sloping positions 0.1 either side of this horizontal position v and where a separationflis taking place, the sepaother things, one or more governing partitions, which may include a. movable part or be com: bined with movable-members arranged within the passage or passages leadin towards the sieve or grid and/ortowardsthe discharge .fromth'is sieve. or grid and provided by, said partitionior.

partitions;

compensate entirely onto any desired extent the grid and on the discharge of the nonworking or suction strokes of the piston or diaphragm caus ing the liquid pulses where a piston or diaphragm is provided for generating said liquid pulses. 1

And in order. to enable the manner in which the above arrangements may be practically cars ried out, may be well understood, certain of their preferred embodiment together with certain of their preferred applications, will be described hereafter with more details and with the aid of the annexed drawings,such embodiments and ape plications being by way of exampleonly.

Inthedrawings: X

. Figure 1 is a diagrammaticalelevation and sectional view of a sorting and separating apparatus having certain features of the invention applied thereto; Y 1

Figures 2, 3 and-4 show, similarly, other ar rangements;

Figure 5 shows diagrammatically aplant comprising the association of apparatus of the kind illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 with a washing trough;

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically a similar.

Where desirablep means may be provided to operation; 3 designates a sieve or grid on which takes place the classing of the materials with, as the case may be, a separation of the heavy portions passing through the sieve or grid to reach the bottom of the box I, the light portions passing over a weir 4, which may be adjustable especially as to the height, to reach a trough or any other location. I

5 designates a piston arranged within a housing 6 of the box I, and actuated for reciprocation in said housing by means of any suitable mechanism such as an eccentric I and a rod arrangement 6.

9 designates a discharge. device--for continu,-- one or intermittent dischargeconveniently for example a pocket discharge device as shown, for the heavy portions of the materials separated on the grid or sieve 3, and I0 is an adjustable liquid supply suitable for generating within the box I, and through the sieveor grid 3 ascending currents of adjustable intensity.

An arrangementas described and the operationthereof are ,well. known and do not require more extensive explanations.

To appropriate such a device for a. wide diversity in quantity and composition of the materials, in accordance with onev feature of the invention the sieve or grid 3 is arranged so as to be able to take various slopes relative to the horizontal position and on either side of the horizontal, by supporting said sieve or grid on a shaft I I journaled in the walls of the box l and locatediri thejexample as illustrated at or near the sieve or grid end which is remote from the regimen of advance of the materials along the sieve or grid and in the actions of the liquid impulses and the liquid currents on the materials occupying the sieve or grid combine one with another to. improve at least theseparation since, While all other things remain the same, to a lesser depth, of the bed will correspond an increasing effect of the liquid impulses and liquid currents with a more marked separating action on the light particles.

To modify the area of the sieve or grid occupied by the materials, in accordance with another ,feed2f of the materials. This shaft 5 I is connected to any suitable operating mechanism, for example a mechanismsuch as illustrated and comprising a lever l2 made integral for rotation with the shaft I i. A rod I3 pivoted on the lever I2, ,anda portion of the rod I3 is screw threaded 'an'd'engaged" within the screw "threaded bore of an operating fhanfd wheel I4 occupying a fixed position in the direction of the axis of the screw. With such an arrangement a rotating movement of the wheel-Id irr'theappropriate direction will cause the sieve or grid 3 to reach any desired slopin positionon'either side of the approximately horizontal position illustrated. However th e'shaft li' could be located at the other end of the sieve? f i It will be appreciated that by so modifying the slope of the sieve or grid 3, all other things remaining the same, the regimen of advance of the materials 'onthe'sieve or grid will be modified. Ari-increase in the upward slope or a decrease in downward slope of the grid or sieve in the direction of the advance of the materials will slow such advance whileto' the contrary a decrease in the upward slope or an increase in the downward slope in said direction will enhance said advance. It will also be: appreciated that by modifying the slopeof thesieve orgrid, all other things remaining thesame, the distribution of the bed of materials willbe modified along the sieve with as a result 'a change in the distribution of the actions of the liquid impulses and liquid currents due. to the active strokes of the piston 5 and theliquidsupply It Thus, if from any position of the sieve or grid 3 the slope thereof is modified so as to increase its upward incline or reduce its downward incline in the direction of advance of the materials, the distribution of the bed of materials willbe modified, resulting in a relative increase of the depth of the bed along the sieve or grid which is a maximum at the entrance of the sieve or grid and a simultaneous relative decrease, along the sieve or grid, of the feature of the invention there is arranged between the feed 2 and, the sieve or grid 3, a plate 55 which is rendered movable along said sieve or grid, for example by associating said plate with a'plate Iii sliding; within a guide ll, the plate #5 beingmoreover hinged to the plate 58, as at It, to allow for the aforesaid changes in slope of the sieve or grid 3. The plate I6 itself or, as illustrated the hinge I8, is associated with a drive such as the driving screw I9 or a similar drive, suitable for moving forward and backward the plate I5 on the face of the sieve or grid 3.

This results in the possibility of modifying as desired the useful or working area of the sieve or grid 3 with the result of a simultaneous change in the action of the liquid impulses andliquid currents upon the materials occupying the sieve or grid.

Thus if the position of the plate i3 is changed by moving same to the right in the figure, the useful or working area of the sieve or grid 3 is reduced in a substantially proportional manner and if, the other things remaining the same, the liquid impulses and liquid currents due to the piston 5' and tothe liquid supply I ii are not altered, the action of said impulses and currents upon the material's occupying the useful area of the sieve or grid 3 willbe reinforced in a corresponding manner.

It will further be seen that by moving the plate I5 forward or backward along the sieve or grid, the distribution or arrangement of the bed of materials on the occupied area of the sieve willbe modified with resultswhich are similar to those indicated in relation, with the changes in the slope of the sieve or grid.

For example, with all other things remaining the same, if the plate I5v is moved so as to reduce the useful areaof the sieve or grid, the distribution of the-bed will be modified in the sense of a relative increase in the depth of the bed along the occupied area which is a maximum at the entrance of said area. A reverse result will be obtained when the plate I5 is moved so as to increase'the useful area occupied by the materials on thesieve or grid. The possibility is thus provided to enhance or attenuate by this means the effects of a change in the slope of the sieve or grid 3, thus providing by combination further practical possibilities in the conditioning of the treatment of materials on the sieve or grid.

Furthermorewhen the slope of the sieve or grid 3 is modified, the slope of the plate I5 is changedin a simultaneous manner, and it should be observed that the change in the position of the plate I 5 has a resulting action which concord with that of changes in the sieve or grid position, thus enhancing the actions obtained by modifying the slope of said sieve or grid.

In arrangements similar to the one described, in which the liquid impulses are generated by the movements of a reciprocating piston 5, the non working ascending strokes of the piston may result in a suction being applied on the materials occupying the sieve or grid 3 which may be undesirable for certain applications.

This suction effect may be avoided entirely or by part by introducing liquid within the box I during the non working strokes of the piston 5, for example in the manner illustrated in the figure in which a sliding valve 20 is connected on the one hand with any suitable source of liquid, such as a branch of a distribution main as shown by part at 21, and on the other hand with the space, suitably bounded by a cover 22, above the piston 5 within the housing 6, and further with the box I, through the passage 23 opening into the box below the level of the sieve or grid 3. l

The sliding valve 20 is actuated by means of the eccentric drive I, of the piston 5, through the intermediary of a crank disc 24 and a connection 25, the arrangement and adjustment being such that during the working or downward strokes of the piston 5, the sliding valve opens the communication between the liquid source 2| and the space of the housing 6 above the piston 5, while such communication is cut out and the sliding valve opens the communication between said space and the box during the non working or upward strokes of the piston 5. The liquid stored above said piston thus passes into the box I and reduces or suppresses any suction effect on the material bed located on the sieve 3 due to such movements of the piston. It is to be understood that the drive of the sliding valve, as well as the features proper of said valve may be modified to secure any desired degree of compensation of the suction effect due to the movements of the piston 5.

Referring to Fig. 2, the features alreadyspe'cified as well as certain other arrangements of the invention have been applied to an apparatus for the separation of materials of different densities such as coals, ores and the like comprising an oscillating grid or sieve with a controlled discharge of materials or at least of certain classes or categories thereof at the end of this sieve r grid, the oscillating movements of the sieve and eventually the operation of the device controlling the discharge being timed with the movements of the piston generating the liquid im pulses in the apparatus.

The figure shows the box I, the feed 2, the piston 5, its housing 6 and its" drive 1-8; the plates l--|6 hinged at Hi, the guide I! andthe drive l9. as well as the device designated by the references to 25 and suitable to ensure the avoidance of the suction effects on the materials of the bed during the ascending strokes of the piston 5, and which are similar and the operations of which are the same to those of the example of Fig. 1. t The sieve or grid 3 is pivotally united to rods 26 for connection with shafts 21, of which one at least is journaled in the walls of the box and one at least may be actuated for oscillatory movements by a suitable mechanism, for .example a mechanism including a lever 28 made integral for rotation with the driven shaft 21 and a drive 29 having an adjustable connection such as 30 with the eccentric drive 1-8 for the piston 5, the arrangement being such that the sieve or grid 3 movesdownwards and backwards (towards the left) when the piston 5 performs its active or descending stroke, while said sieve or grid moves upwards and forwards when the piston 5 performs its non working ascending stroke.

On the other hand,the control device for the discharge of the products from the sieve or grid 3, arranged opposite the free end of said sieve or grid, comprises a system of plates 3| and 32 hinged together on a common shaft 33 and hinged on a shaft 34 journaled in the walls of the box I. The plate 3| comprises a shaft 35 connected, by

means of rods or links 36 hinged together at 31, Q

to a shaft 38 journaled in the walls of the box I The hinge 31 is connected, through a rod or link 39 to a driving mechanism 40, for example comprising a screw or, the like cooperating with a hand wheel enabling the position of said hinge to be modified and thereby the basic adjustment of the control device for the discharge 3l 32 to be effected.

The control device for the discharge may be such as at present described, or. alternately a lever of adjustable operative length 4| may be secured to the shaft 34 while a suitable point of said lever is connected directly or indirectly, through a driving arrangement 42, to the driving arrangement for the piston 5, in such a way that the device controlling the discharge from the sieve performs movements in concord with those of the piston 5, that is the common hinge 33 moves downwards and upwards while the piston 5 ascends and descends within its housin 6 respectively.

An adjustable liquid supply is provided at 43 andv as in the example of Fig. 1, the lower end of the box I is connected to a discharge device of any suitable type, for example a pocket discharge device 9 (Fig. 1) operating continuously or intermittently.

In operation, when the materials in either mixed condition or already moreor less sorted, coming at 2, pass on the grid or sieve 3, which is oscillated and associated with a device as de-- scribed for controlling the discharge, owing to the alternative movements of the piston 5 these materials are subjected to liquid impulses, while they are simultaneously influenced by the movements imparted to the sieve or grid and, as the case may be, by the generally ascending currents issued from the liquid supply 43. The liquid impulse caused by the downward movement of the piston acts on the bed to reject upwards the grains or particles of-lesser density, the denser grains or particles reaching the or remaining in the lower layers. At the same time the inertia of the particles or grains especially the denser one, does that while effecting its downward movement, the sieve or grid moves relatively to said grains or particles, towards the left, with the result that the materials are in fact caused to move towards the right end, of discharge, of the sieve or grid, which movement is assisted, or even caused, by the plate I5 acting as a stop for the materials, especially those of the lower layers, preventing them frcm moving towards the left with the sieve or grid should they have a tendency to follow the direction thereof in. such a direction. An effective discharge is thus obtained at the right end, of the grid or sieve, the denser particles or grains passing within the box 1, be,- tween the end of the grid and the member 3|,

and; the l ghter products pass ngc er the mem- 32 of th discharge evi e Dur ng th nex phase of the op rat on h i during the asc nding mo ment of the p st the gri or si ve w ll b sim tan o ra se and moved to the right while the bulk of the ed settles on aid sie e a s id.-

Whenthe discharge device is actuated in timed relation with the movements of the piston 5 through the connection 4;l.42, the common hinge 33 will be alternately raised and lowered, in concord with the lowering and raising movements of the sieve or grid lithe, discharge openings being increased in area when the sieve or grid is lower d and uced in r when he sieve or grid is raised, thus promoting thedischarge of the dense grains or, particles towards the box and impeding their passa e towar s th dis h rge or the l gh p ducts- Q s In carrying out the invention, the sieve or grid 3 i furth r arrang d to receiv vari s slop s. and to this end either the links or rods 26 connecting he s e r g i t th shaft 2'! are forme as extensible members, or the ends of the shafts 2? are ran ed t slide wi hin elongated slots ormed in the wa ls of the box 1 nd ser in as earings f r such shai s. or eeainthe shaf h ch cau d to oscillate and which, a l strated, is th neares o th entrance end of thesieve, or grid ,3, is mounted in fixed bearings and the othe s aft 2.7 iournaled n rods r links 2m the angular position of whi h m y e adjust d a desired r ative to he driven haf 21- To this end said rods .or link .2. la may be ri idly secured to a sleeve or sleeves 27b surrounding the said shaft. 2" and ar an ed to be secured in a pr de e mined i ul r p sit on on sai f by any suitable means suchas escrow or its equiva lent 21c. J

Also the discharge o the si r rid 3 is provided with an adjustable weir 3a, to, which movements may be imparted in any desired mannor, as for example by means of a screw like member 372 rotated by means of a gear operable from the outside and partly illustrated at 3c.

As pointed out in relation with the sieve or grid 3 shown in Fig. 1, a change in slope of the oscillating sieve or grid of Fig. 2 so as to reduce the ascending slope or to'increase the descending slope towards the discharge end will enhance the l.

advance of; the materials on the sieve or grid and the discharge therefrom, especially or the dense portion of said materials, a reverse action taking place naturally should the change in slope be effected in the opposite direction.

As the adjustable weir do further enables a bed of any desired mean depth to be retained on the sieve or grid by the adjustment of said weir, variable slopes of the sieve or grid and movements of the plate 15, one may conform to the requirements the useful area and the working of the sieve or grid, that is the sorting or classifying as Well as the advance and discharge of the material there Accordin to yet another feature of the invention, means are provided in the box] enabling the respective actions on the materials occupying the sieve or grid 3, and on the discharge from said sieve or grid, of the liquid impulses and, 01' of the liquid currents, to be widely modified.

As illustrated, these means include a partition M extending the full width of thebox l and dipping therein to a distance from its lower end or bottom, so as to provide kinds of compartments, one of which contains the sieve or grid 3 and the t er t e i charge t r said sieve or g idhe partition 44 inc u s. in addition to a fixed lower part 45 mounted on a shaft lli, an upper extensible part 4?, for example formed by means of two plates arranged to be slidable relatively to each other, as by means of studs of one plate engaged in elongated slots of the other, one of said plates being secured to the shaft 46 and the other being hinged on a shaft 48 journaled in the frame of the sieve or grid 3 and moving therewith. Within the space separating the lower edge of the partition 45 from the bottom of the box l, is ar ranged an obturating member, such a plate 45, securely fastened to a shaft 50 journaled in the walls of the box I and operable for turning move ments from outside the box by means of any suitable drive, not shown. By changing the position of the plate 59 the sectional area of the passage between the compartments formed by the partition 44 may be modified, from the fully opened position to the fully closed position, or thereabout.

1 Instead of the arrangement just described, while retaining the upper portionof the partition 6 arranged as described above, the lower portion 45 may be rendered movable while retaining permanently a free passage between the lower edge of the partition and the bottom of the box, and arranging an obturating member mounted on and actuated by a. shaft 56a, as illustrated in dotted lines at 39a, within the compartment of the box comprising the discharge from the sieve or grid '3. I

Together with this latter arrangement, it may be useful to provide for an additional liquid sup! ply 51 Within the compartment comprising the discharge of the sieve or grid 3.

Whatever may be the adopted arrangement it will easily be seen that owing to this the liquid impulses and liquid currents generated by the piston 5 and the liquid supply 53 may be dis tributed within relatively wide limitsbetween the compartments provided by the partition 44%, according to the requirements for treating the materials, on the sieve or grid 3 and at the discharge of said sieve or grid, observing that an increase in the mean depth of the materials on the sieve or grid 3,-wl ich increase requires a stronger action of the liquid impulses and liquid currents on these materials, corresponds precisely to, a greater distance apart of the layers mainly comprising the dense products and the light products respectively and thus to a discharge of dense products havinga rel-atively low content in light products which thence admits ascending currents of small or no value without giving rise to any substantial carrying of light products with the discharge dense products. Conversely a reduced depth of materials on the sieve or grid .Brequires a less marked action of the liquid impulses and liquid currents upon the materials occupying the sieve or grid, but to the contrary more stronger ascending currents acting on the discharge to avoid therein the carrying of light products with the dense products.

When the treated materials are mostly formed of grains or particles of small sizes, or show only a small content in dense products, it'may be of interest to arrange the discharge in a different way, that is at a, fixed location, distinct from the endot the eve or grid. in ord r to ena le a m r accurate'contr of the ondit ons o passa t he dis har e of he produ ts to be eva uated.

In the, examplative embodiment according to Fig. 3, suitable for such an application, the arrangement of thesieve or grid 3 proper may be similar to the sieve or grid arrangement of Fig. 1, that is with a mounting allowing for an adjustable slope of the sieve or gridab'out a shaft ll provided with an appropriate drive for angular movement, as well as it may be similar to the sieve or grid arrangement of Fig. 2, thatis with a mounting allowing for reciprocating movements of the sieve or grid, for example, as indicated in dotted lines, by means oftherods or links 25 securely fastened to, shafts 21 journaled in bearings sliding in slots 21d of the box I and of which one at least is caused to oscillate.

The discharge of the evacuated materials is carried at a location such as. 52; the, discharge opening proper may be providedwith movable and adjustable weirs as indicated at 53 and .54 and with this opening is associated a liquid supply 5| able to produce adjustable ascending currents adapted to prevent grains or .particlesthe discharge of which is not desired to becarried to the discharge.

As shown in the figure, the box is additionally provided with a partition 44a'the lower end of which leaves between itself and thebottom of the box a passage occupied at least in .part by an obturating member in the form of a throttle valve or the like, as 45-50, a second partition 44b forming together with the partition 44a akind of closed chamber which may conveniently serve to reduce the volume of the internal space of the box, and meeting or meeting approximately in the upper portion of the box I, a hinge connection 55 formed between two members .or plates 55 and 51 arranged in a bridge like manner between the end of the sieve or grid 3 and thedischarge 52, said hinge. connection being adapted for reciprocatingmovements in a vertical direction when the sieve or grid 3'is oscillated, and this in timed relation with the movements of the piston 5 as explained with reference to Fig. 2..

Naturally while retaining a distinct. discharge 52, an arrangement other than the one just described could be devised; and for example only one partition such as 44a having a movable lower portion could be provided in association with a throttle valve or other obturator suchas 49a, 50a arranged within the passage leading from the discharge 52 and preserved by the partition 44a as described with reference to Fig. 2. 4

As previously explainedthe conditions for the treatment of the materials on the sieve or grid 3 and for the discharge at. 52 could be modified.

in accordance with'the requirements by judiciously acting on thcyvarious adjustable members or elements; observing that owing to the discharge 52 being separatedma widely greater independency is obtained-for. controlling the discharge conditions, enabling such discharge to be adjusted to allow for, the sole discharge of products within very close limits of sizes and densities. H

In the embodiment in accordance ,with Fig. 4, the sieve or grid 3 is arranged to receive variable slopes by means of ashaft Ila located close to the sieve or grid end which is adjacent to the feed of the materials, and the other end of the sieve or grid is providedwith a movable and adjustable weir suchas 3d, the position adjustment of which is obtained by means of a screw or the like 3b. The sieve or grid; arranged in this way is combined with a discharge taking place within a compartment of thebox I provided by a partition such as 44a andcontrolled and, or regulated by means of a weir forming valve 58 adjustable as to width and slope, as well as by means of liquid currents adjusted through a liquid supply 5! and an obturating device such as 49-50.

However, nothing prevents the sieve or grid 3 to be arranged in the manner described with reft erence to Fig. 2, that is so as toenable reciprocating movements thereof, the partition 44a then being arranged in either of the manners described for the partition 44 of Fig. 2 t j Referring now to Fig. 5 in which one of the numerous applications of arrangements as previously described has been illustrated by wayof example by the association of classing-separators, for example as in Fig. 2, with a washing trough in having the invention applied .to the treatment of coals, it will be observed that in such a trough an extracting apparatus located upstream of the trough will have generally to perform the separation and the discharge of denser products, and this in more considerable quantities than an extracting apparatus located downstream in the trough. To be rationalthe extraction must take care of such degression in the specific weight and the quantity of the products to be extracted.

Owing to the invention such a condition may be entirely satisfied by means of a single type of apparatus.

As may be seen in the figure, showing three classing-separators associated, with the washing trough .58 (the number of such classing-separators could be different from three), the parts or members of the upstream, apparatus are adjusted to allow for the extraction of large quantities of very dense products, that is amongst other: the sieve or grid 3 is largely sloping, the weir 3a is largely raised, the plate I5 is advanced so as to reduce the useful surface of the sieve or grid and the obturator 50 (or the movable lower portion of the partition 44 and the obturator 49a, 50a) is adjusted in such a way that the liquid impulses and liquid currents act mainly on the materials occupying the sieve or grid 3. 7

To the contrary the parts or, members of the downstream apparatus are adjusted to allow for the extraction of lesser quantities of lesser dense products, that is; the sieve or grid 3 receivesa lesser slope, the useful surface of said sieve or grid is largely increased by a back'shifting (towards the left) of the plate l5, the protuberance of the weir 3a is reduced or suppressed, and the obturator 49, 50 (or the movable lower portion of the partition 44 and the obturator 4912, a) is adjusted so that the liquid impulses and liquid currents may have a marked action on the discharge in order to prevent ,the discharge with the dense products of the light products to be retained into the trough s9. The parts or members of the intermediate apparatus will receive adjustments interme diate be tween the above mentioned extreme adjustments, taking care of the particular conditions injthe lo cation of the apparatus-andfinthe extractionto beeffected. i

Fig. 6 shows another application of the invention, that is to the ores the particlesof which are of comparatively reduced sizes for example diamondores. i I At are shown concentrating apparatus called pans of which, until now, the concentrated products were treated in a seriesofdru ms t c ses cure the separation thereot in-, classes or cats: gories within close limits of, sizes, each class or category being subsequently treated; in jigs, or

similar apparatus.

'In accordance with the invention, the products from the pans 60, after-separation therefrom, if and when necessary, of the very fine particlesfor example 0-1-and of the excess water-within a drum not shown are introduced into a washing trough 6 provided with one, two or a greater number of Messing-separators, and yet more conveniently with one, two or a greater number of groups of two classing-separators according to Fig. 1, 3 or 4, designated 62 and illustrated as constructed in accordance with Fig. 1, the operation thereof being as indicated.

In operation, the concentrates from the first group are considered as finished products; the concentrates from the second group of c1assingseparators may be considered-as finished products or, for one or both the apparatus of said group, as a product to be rewashed in which case theymay be treated in separate apparatus and conveniently, for this purpose, received by a'noria or other elevator 83 and returned to the head of the trough B i.

The discharge from the trough Si is considered as tailings or may be subjected to a control treatment in suitable devices.

If desired the trough 6i and the associated apparatus may be mounted on a carriage to enable them to be easily combined with a movable plant such, for example, as the one partly illustrated.

Although the product from the pans to has been considered as the crude or starting product, said starting product could be a 'difierent one.

As already indicated the described embodiments and applications are exemplary only and not limitative ones, the invention including the modifications, the alternatives and the other applications.

I claim:

l. A jig for treating materials comprising grains or particles of different densities'such as coals, ores and the like, in variable quantities and variable compositions subjected to periodic liquid impulses, including a jig box adapted to have liquid therein to a predetermined level, means for producing pulsations in the liquid, a sieve pivotally supported in the upper portion of the jig box and spaced at its discharge end from the adjacent wall of the box to provide a discharge opening emptying into the portion of the box located below the sieve, adjustable "means to set said sieve in a basic lengthwise position within an angle extending on either side of the horizontal, an adjustable Weir at the discharge end of the sieve, adjustable discharge means positioned in the'aforesaid discharge opening for controlling the effective area of said opening, and plate means for covering a portion of the length'of the sieve surface to establish the useful Working'area of said surface.

2. A jig as in claim l, in which the plate means for establishing the useful working area of the sieve includes a plate arranged to overlap a portion of the sieve at its feed end, and means for movably supporting the plate member to allow it to automatically accommodate different settings of the sieve. p 3. A jig as in claim 1, in which the. plate means for establishing the useful working area of the sieve includes a sloping plate arranged to overlap a portion of the sieve at its feed end, a movable guide member pivotally supporting the sloping plate to allow the latter to automatically accommodate different settings of the sieve, and a screw for moving the sloping plate and its guide member lengthwise of the sieve.

4. A jig for treating materials comprising grains or particles of diiferent densities, such as coals, ores and the like, in variable quantities and variable compositions subjected to periodic liquid impulses, including a jig box adapted to have liquid therein to a predetermined level, means for producing pulsations in said liquid, a sieve, at least one substantially horizontal cross shaft pivotally supporting the sieve, adjustable means to set said sieve in a basic lengthwise position within an angle extending on either side of the horizontal, at least one substantially horizontal oscillating cross shaft, link connections between said oscillating cross shaft and the sieve supporting shaft to impart oscillatory movements to the sieve in substantially parallel relation with said basic position, an adjustable weir and adjustable discharge means at the outlet end of the sieve, and means for covering the sieve surface on a continuous fraction of the length thereof to establish the useful working area of said sieve.

5. A jig for treating materials comprising grains or particles of difierent densities, such as coals, ores and the like, in variable quantities and variable compositions subjected to periodic liquid impulsescomprising a jig box adapted to have liquid therein to a predetermined level, a sieve supported in the upper portion of the jig box below the level of the liquid and terminating at its discharge end in spaced relation to the adjacent end wall of the box to provide a discharge opening, means foradjusting the angle of the sieve relative to the horizontal, a partition depending from the discharge end of the sieve to provide two passages in the box with one passage communicating with the sieve and the other passage communicating with the aforesaid discharge opening, means communicating directly with the passage for the sieve for pulsating the water in the jig box, an opening in the bottom of the jig box for discharging the materials that settle downwardly through the sieve and its passage and that settle downwardly through the aforesaid discharge opening and its passage, adjustable means cooperating with the partition and the adjacent wall of the jig box for controlling the extent to which the water in the passage c,ommunicating with the aforesaid discharge opening is affected bythe action of the water pulsating means, and means for varying the effective area of the aforesaid discharge opening.

6. A jig as in claim 5, comprising means for oscillating the sieve through a given path while maintaining a given angle of adjustment of the sieve relative to the horizontal.

7. Ajig as in claim 5, in which the said depending partition comprises a lower stationary section and an upper twopart section pivotally connected to the upper edge of the lower stationary section and to the discharge end portion of the sieve, and meansfor connecting the two parts of the upper section of the partition for relative sliding movements to accommodate difieren't angular adjustments of the sieve.

8. A jig as in claim 5, in which meansar'e provi'ded for oscillating the jig through a given path while maintaining a given angle of adjustment of the sieve relative to the horizontal, and the said depending partition comprising a lower stationary section and an upper two-part section pivotally connected to the upper edge of the lower stationary section and to the discharge end portion of the sieve, and means for connecting the two parts of the upper section of the partition for relative sliding movements to accommodate dif- 13 ferent angular adjustments and oscillating movements of the sieve.

9. A jig for treating materials comprising grains or particles of difierent densities, suchas coals, ores and the like, in variable quantities and variable compositions subjected therein to the action of liquid currents and periodic liquid impulses, including a jig box, liquid supply means for the box, mechanical means for producing pulsations in the liquid supplied to the box, driving mechanism for said mechanical means, a sieve, at least one substantially horizontal cross shaft for pivotally supporting the sieve, adjustable means to set said sieve in a basic lengthwise position within an angle extending on either side of the horizontal, an oscillatable mechanism operatively connected to said shaft to impart oscillatory movements to the sieve in substantially parallel relation with said basic position, an operative connection between the driving mechanism and the oscillatable mechanism to impart oscillating movements to the latter, an adjustable weir and discharge means at the outlet end of the sieve, movable members for adjusting said discharge means, an operative connection between said movable members and the oscillatable mechanism to actuate said movable members simultaneously with the operation of the oscillatable mechanism, and means for covering the sieve surface on a continuous fraction only of the length thereof to establish the useful working area of said sieve.

10. A jig as in claim 9, in which the operative connection between the movable members of the discharge means and the oscillatable mechanism includes means for adjusting the phase relation between the movements of the sieve and the movements of said movable members.

11. A jig for treating materials comprising grains or particles of different densities, such as coals, ores and the like, in variable quantities and variable compositions subjected therein to the action of liquid currents and periodic liquid impulses, including a jig box, liquid supply means for the box, a reciprocating piston, driving mechanism for reciprocating the piston, a sieve, at least one substantially horizontal cross shaft pivotally supporting the sieve, adjustable means to set said sieve in a basic lengthwise position within an angle extending on either 5 side of the horizontal, at least one substantially horizontal oscillatable shaft, link connections between said latter shaft and the sieve supporting shaft to permit oscillatory movements of the sieve in substantially parallel relation with the said basic position, an operative connection between the said driving mechanism and said 0scillatable shaft to impart oscillating movements to the sieve in timed relation with the reciprocating movements of the piston, an adjustable weir and discharge means at the outlet end of the sieve, movable members for adjusting said discharge means, an operative connection between the said movable members and the oscillatable shaft to move said members in timed. relation with the oscillated sieve and the reciprocated piston, means for covering the sieve surface on a continuous fraction only of the length thereof to establish the useful working area of said sieve, partition means extending generally upwardly through the box and forming therein compartments of which at least one includes the sieve and another includes the discharge, a communicating passage between said compartments, additional liquid supply means connected to the said compartments, and adjustable shutters in the said-compartments to adjust the actions of the liquid impulses and liquid currents on the sieve and the discharge.

EDMOND HARVENGT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 653,357 Montgomery July 10, 1900 303,407 Dick Oct. 31, 1905 1,011,496 Russell et a1. Dec. 12, 1911 1,146,682 Amis July 13, 1915 1,441,571 France Jan. 9, 1923 1,461,647 Bookwalter July 10, 1923 1,544,999 Legueus 1 July 7, 1925 2,281,530 Straun Apr, 28, 1942 2,328,402 Tuthill Aug. 31, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 51,685 Germany Apr. 26, 1890 25,177 Great Britain of 1905 237,928 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1926 732,689 France June 20, 1932 814,898 France Mar. 30, 1937 

